For My Father's Memory
Monday, December 28, 2009 at 7:05AM 
Last evening, prior to the sunset, I traveled to the ocean. Hearing the beautiful roar of the waves, the cool wind on my face, seeing the rolling waves, below the amber and orange light receding in the south, I thought of my father. He might have liked This moment very much.
As I sat in front of the ocean that looked so vast, I was able to recall and say Bodhisattva's Vow, for the memory of my father. The words... the feeling... goes like this...
"When I, a student of Dharma,
Look at the real form of the universe,
All is the never-failing manifestation
Of the mysterious truth of the Tathagata.
In any event, in any moment, and in any place,
None can be other than the marvelous revelation
Of its glorious light.
This realization made our patriarchs and virtuous Zen masters
Extend tender care, with the heart of worshipping,
Even to such beings as beasts and birds.
This realization teaches us that our daily food and drink,
Clothes and protections of life, are the warm flesh and blood,
The merciful incarnation of Buddha.
Who can be ungrateful or not respectful
Even to senseless things, not to speak of man?
Even though he may be a fool,
Be warm and compassionate toward him.
If by an chance he should turn against us,
And become a sworn enemy, and abuse and persecute us, we should
Bow down with humble words, in reverent belief
That he is the merciful avatar of Buddha
Who uses devices to emancipate us from sinful karma
That has been produced and accumulated upon ourselves
By our own egoistic delusion and attachment
Through the countless cycles of Kalpa.
Then on each moment's flash of our thought
There will grow a lotus flower,
And on each lotus flower will be revealed a Buddha.
These Buddhas will glorify Sukhavati,
The Pure Land, every moment and everywhere.
May we extend This mind over the whole Universe
So that we and all beings together
May attain maturity in Buddha's wisdom."
May All Beings Be Free Of Suffering,
Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO
Reader Comments (2)
wow. this just evoked many feelings, Seiho. the quality of mercy - so little practiced towards ourselves and others. thank you for reinforcing it for me!
~_O_~
Genju
Genju,
Gassho with deep bow, for seeing and feeling my true meaning.
~Seiho